Courses

EP-210

2 credit(s)

Course Chair: Michael Bierylo

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Required of: None

Electable by: All

Prerequisites: None

Department Code: ELPD

Location: Boston Campus

An audio/video tour of compositions, performances, and technical developments that inform the diversity of electroacoustic music. Composition genres facilitated by electronic means such as process music, microtonality, ambient, aleatory; and electronic transformations of keyboards, guitars, drums, winds, and voice are explored. Landmark compositions, songs, soundscapes, and performances are placed in a broader context that runs the gamut from early avant-garde through current popular genres. The classroom listening experience is extended via the 50+ page annotated discography designed for long-term study. This course provides a focused introduction to the culture and repertoire of music technology, a requisite for those who intend to work in the field. A selected film that features electronic sound design and/or electroacoustic music is screened during midterm and final exam weeks.

Study of principles and use of modules (oscillators, filters, amplifiers, envelope generators) found in software and hardware modular sound production systems. Focus is on observing signal characteristics at outputs, and defining signal functions (audio, control, timing) solely via connections to inputs. Sonic deconstruction and other electronic ear training techniques are presented, and correlative original sound designs are produced by students. In addition to class participation, students are supervised in weekly hands-on practice in EP/D labs, where an array of software and hardware systems are available.

This course provides a comprehensive study of MIDI and other control systems in the context of electronic music production. Focus is given to the integration of hardware and software synthesizers, digital audio, and controllers into the sequencing/DAW environment. The MIDI specification and its practical applications in music production and sound design will be explored. A wide range of sequencing projects focuses on developing the technical and creative skills necessary to produce convincing electronic music.

EP-250

2 credit(s)

Course Chair: Michael Bierylo

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer

Required of: None

Electable by: All

Prerequisites: None

Department Code: ELPD

Location: Boston Campus

Focuses on electroacoustic music in the film score. Highlights electronic musical instruments, computer software, and electronic techniques used to create and synchronize music, Foley, SFX (sound effects), and dialogue to picture. Illustrated voluminously with film clips and DVD supplements, from the coming of sound in film (circa 1927) through the modern era. Real time or mediated demonstrations of techniques such as click track, punches and streamers, Pro Tools mix down, pitch shifting, audio reversal, ADR (automated dialogue replacement), etc., are shown in class. This course familiarizes class members with archetypal electroacoustic underscores, industry terminology, and standard practices used to produce sound for picture. It is a useful initiation for those who intend to produce sound/music to picture for feature films, industrials, animation, advertising, and video games. A selected film that features electronic sound design and/or electroacoustic music is screened during midterm and final exam weeks.

EP-261

2 credit(s)

Course Chair: Michael Bierylo

Semesters Offered: Spring Only

Required of: None

Electable by: All

Prerequisites: EP-225 or MP-225

Department Code: ELPD

Location: Boston Campus

A study of composition devices such as hemiola, stretto, polymeter, canon, augmentation/diminution, antiphony, pointillism, streaming, hocketing, ostinato, spatialization, etc. used by professional electronic media (e.g., video game, film score, telecommunications, internet) composers and sound designers. Harmony and its devices are not considered. Students are challenged to show how the classic devices of music composition can be extended using electronic technology. Participants compose original sound sketches, and a longer digital audio/MIDI production that illustrate fluency with the musical devices presented in class. Class members also excerpt commercially available music of their choice that features discernible musical devices, and group analyses are developed in class.

Based on the concepts and skills learned in EP-220 Studio Technologies, this course places a primary emphasis on the improvement of student productions through effective mixing techniques. Mix balance, equalization, dynamics, and other signal processing techniques will be explored and applied to a series of projects. Genre-specific techniques will be discussed, in addition to electronic music styles and sound design scenarios.

Building on concepts and skills developed in EP-225, this advanced, project-oriented course focuses on mastering an electronic music production environment using a wide variety of hardware and software. Emphasis is placed on integrating advanced MIDI sequencing techniques with audio production. These techniques are applied in a series of projects that include, music and sound design for animation, remixing and developing original electronic music. Topics include advanced real-time control of synthesis parameters, spotting to picture, manipulation of musical time and tempo, and effectively working with various rhythmic feels. Special attention will be paid to integrating hardware instruments and controllers in a software-based DAW production environment.

Building on the concepts learned in EP-223, this course further develops a student’s understanding and application of core synthesis skills to include additive, FM, sampling, and other advanced synthesis techniques. Additional work with sonic ear training and patch dictation helps students identify and create unusual and dynamic instrumental sounds and sound effects. Classroom activities and assignments provide the opportunity to use advanced hardware and software synthesis systems to develop unique electronic sounds that can be used in live performance, electronic music production, media post-production, and video game audio applications.

This course is a portfolio development workshop focusing on interactive web technologies. Weekly assignments will build fluency in file formats, encoding tools, and authoring platforms, as well as basic coding for the Web. Through successful completion of these projects, students will become adept at the basics of website design and development, preparing audio and video examples of their work for web delivery.

EP-330

2 credit(s)

Course Chair: Michael Bierylo

Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring

Required of: None

Electable by: ELPD majors

Prerequisites: EP-320, EP-321, and EP-223

Department Code: ELPD

Location: Boston Campus

A creative study of the musical aesthetics involved with composing and arranging in a wide range of popular Indian musical genres, including pop songs, remix hits, and classical forms. Utilizing a variety of electronic programming and production techniques, students will complete a series of guided projects that effectively demonstrate the contemporary application of Indian ragas, musical instrumentation, and popular stylistic repertoire.